While awareness is first and foremost, Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputies can ticket or arrest beachgoers who enter the Gulf of Mexico under double-red flag conditions.
“Our biggest thing is that we try to educate people first,” Sheriff’s Lt. Charlie Nix said last week. “Along with beach safety, we try and warn people about the conditions as much as we can, but we can’t cover it all.”
At least a half-dozen people have drowned in Okaloosa and Walton counties over the past few weeks because of dangerous surf conditions and rip currents.
Destin, Beach Safety Chief Joe D’Agostino said there had been no drownings in his jurisdiction as of last Thursday. Since his lifeguards took to the beach in early March, 28 people have been rescued.
Under an Okaloosa County ordinance, deputies can issue a notice to appear in court to people who do not obey commands to leave the water during dangerous surf. As a last resort, deputies can arrest them.
The law does not apply to surfers.
After a notice is issued, people are released on their signature and must appear before a judge at a later date. Nix said there is no fine schedule in place, so deputies cannot write tickets for monetary amounts.
“I can’t remember the last time we’ve had to write one,” he said. “A majority of the time we get compliance.”
Destin City Councilman Jim Wood said he is OK with deputies issuing tickets as long as it’s done on a consistent basis. He said it’s a “tool in the toolbox” for the deputies, and can be used to discourage people from entering the water.
With that said, Wood added that people have to use common sense.
“Should government have to do everything to keep people safe?” he said. “Some folks don’t like to follow the rules, or they just don’t know what the rules are. How do you help them understand?”
Mayor Sam Seevers agreed that if tickets help deter swimmers from entering dangerous surf, then she’s all for it.
“It doesn’t bother me a bit,” she said. “As a council, we take an oath to protect people, and if this helps do that I’m all for it.”
Okaloosa isn’t the only local government that has the authority to issue tickets or arrest people for entering the Gulf when it’s closed.
A Walton County law allows officials to “close or restrict use of the beach and water bodies.” A violator can be fined $100. Surfers also are exempt from the ordinance.
Entering the water under double-red flag conditions is a misdemeanor in Bay County, and people can be arrested.
Richard Aloy, public information officer for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, said because beach flags are only “advisories, not directives,” there are no penalties.
“I searched the county ordinances and could not locate anything regarding flag conditions,” he wrote in an email.
Destin Log Staff Writer Matt Algarin can be reached at 850-654-8446 or malgarin@thedestinlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @DestinLogMatt.
